To the United States Congress and the House and Senate Judiciary Committees:
The internet gave rise to a new generation of independent storytelling, puppetry, and animation. For years, creators have used pop-culture figures, toys, and plushies to make entirely new, transformative parodies that entertain millions.
But right now, our federal copyright and trademark laws are dangerously outdated. Giant corporations are weaponizing these laws to crush independent creators. We saw it happen when Nintendo forced the massive channel SML (SuperMarioLogan) to abandon its history and completely alter its content under threat of legal ruin. This isn't just about one channel—every day, hundreds of independent animators, fan-film makers, and digital puppeteers live in fear that their life's work will be permanently deleted overnight by a corporate cease-and-desist letter.
When a creator buys a physical toy and uses it as a puppet to tell a brand-new, transformative story, they aren't stealing. They are practicing a timeless American tradition: parody. These videos don't hurt corporate toy sales—if anything, they keep these brands relevant. Yet, multi-billion-dollar companies use claims of "trademark dilution" to bully creators who don't have millions of dollars to fight back in federal court.
We are demanding that Congress introduce and pass the "Digital Creator Protection and Parody Freedom Act."
This bill will:
Expand Fair Use: Protect independent creators who use commercially purchased physical goods or toys as puppets/props to tell new stories, even if their channels are monetized.
Stop Trademark Bullying: Stop corporations from claiming "brand damage" or "dilution" just because a parody features their characters in edgy or mature humor.
End Abusive Cease-and-Desists: Force massive corporations to legally prove a video isn't a fair-use parody before they can threaten a creator's livelihood, allowing creators to fight back against bad-faith enforcement.

Outdated laws shouldn't be used to destroy digital creativity. True hope for the future of the internet means standing up for the independent creators who make us laugh every single day.
Sign this petition to demand that Congress updates federal law and protects the right to parody!